Bag opening machine with upper and lower bag forming units disposed in parallel relationship



2,561,410 WER BAGY FORMING SHIP July 24, 1951 J. F. PETERS BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH UPPER AND L0 UNITS DIsPosED 1N PARALLEL RELATION V2 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 S L L 9 R www o m MMM j/ m 1%@ A ww Y NQ Q S B N o /l k NN@ @m o L: @m u s. n Q. m Q

Q LQ a L@ July 24, 1951 J. F. PETERS 2,561,410

BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH UPPER AND LOWER BAG FORMING UNITS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 1.951v- UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE 2,561,410 BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH UPPER. AND LOWER BAG FOEMING UNITS DIsPos-ED IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP- ration ofNew Jersey Application August 7, 1946, Serial No.. 689,071

This invention relates to. bag or container openingmachines and more particularly to a machine foropening or expanding flattened or folded bags, flexible containers and the like and for holding them in opened position for filling.

An object of the invention is the provision of a bag opening machine for opening `flattened or folded, exible bags, shipping carriers and the like into an expanded `article receiving condition.

Another object of the invention is the `provision of a bag openingrma'chine having contractable and expandable elements, which in one position permit the `telescoping of a partially opened bag thereover and which in another position expands the bag and holds it in condition for lling, the filled bagthereafter being .released without disarranging thcnarticles Within the. bag. A

Still another objectof the Linvention is `the pro vision of such a machine of simple construction wherein coacting torming V.units expand av col lapsed or partially opened bagf and hold it in articl-ereceiving condition Vwah-ile supporting and guiding the articles into filling position` within the expanded bag.

Numerous other objects 1and advantages olf Vthe invention will be apparent as it is better` understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, discloses "a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a bag opening machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with Icer-tain parts removed and vshowing a partially opened bag being slipped `or telescoped onto Icooperating lower-fslidable and upper movable bag opening elements or units ywhile they -arein a contracted position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the coacting units in an expanded position within a bag causing the vlatter to `be fully expanded thereover;

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 3 illustrating the backor `loading ond of the device, With-a bag or shipping' carrier held in position for filling and articles placed in the bag being indicated by broken lines; and

Fig. 5 isa sectional View of -the-.machine during a bag filling operation as taken substantially along the line 5-5 inFig. 4i

As a preferred embodimentiof the invention, the drawings illustrate a machine for opening natt'ened or folded bags, flexible containers, shipping carriers and the like `designated. fbytheletter A. which, upon being partially opened and slipped s claims. (el. 22e- 18) over contrae-table and expandable for-ming or opening units or elements of the machine, may be expanded intol ll'ing condition.

The bag is usually made of flexible material such as paper and when expanded preferably formara square or .rectangular container as best illustrated in Figs. 3, land 5 for shipping of articles such as empty cans. It is formed with tour side wal-l members a, b, c and d. Eachwall member a, b, c and d has its marginal edge` bent and folded at one end and secured' to a bottom wall member e.

The bag A `just described is received, for example, at a can lmanuffacturers plant'in a flattened or folded form and is used for packing empty cans or containers B (Figs. 4 and 5) which usually are formed with a tubular body having a bottom 'end secured thereto. Such cans are in a completed form `ready `for -filling at a Cannery (except for the top en'ds whichare `usually shipped separately). The 'ready to lill cans are packed in bags or `flexible containers of the character described by the can maker for the purpose of shipping them to the canner or `packer who fllls the desired product therein.

The bag opening machine embodying the present invention comprises contractable and expand*- able bag Wall engaging lunits or elements for opening the bags A and for holding them in ex# panded position while they are being filled. The units, designated by the letter C, of which there are two, each kcomprises an L-shaped or angular member located adjacent the lower corner at each front side of the frame of the machine. Each unit or angular member includes a bottom Wall II and a side wall I2, disposed at a right angle to each other, and the bottom walls I I are adapted to overlap andslide over each other when contracted position.

The lower bag forming or corner units C are each carried on a slide I3, vthe bottom wall II of each unit being secured to the respective slide (Fig. 1). The slides t3 are `movable on a slide bar M, which is mounted in an open rectangular `trame I5 of' the machine. The frame I5 comprises the main frame of the machine and has `a front opening IB and a rear opening I1. The frame I5 may be formed integral with or mounted on a base or pedestal I8.

The slides `I3 (Figs. A1, 4 and 5) are elongated, inverted U-shaped members which engage the slide bar `III on three surfaces, namely, the top and along` the two opposite sides. The slides `I3 are carried on the slide bar I4 by means Aof a pin 22 which .passes throughfsuitable openingsA 23cm 3 the slide and moves in elongated slots 24 in the slide bar I4.

Each L-shaped bag forming or expanding unit C is reinforced or supported by a rod or tubular member 25 which is secured as by welding to the corner formed by each bottom wall Il and side wall I2. `These reinforcing and supporting rods 25 extend through the entire length of the units and project out at the rear opening I1 of the frame and their outer curved ends 26 (Figs. 1, 2

and engage a transverse bar 21 mounted in the the units C` are slid along the slide bar I4.

rlhe other of the contractable and expandable elements or bag forming units which cooperate with the lower corner units C are designated by the letter D. These elements comprise upper` corner rods 32 which are located in a superimposed position over the upper edge of each side wall I 2 when the units C and the elements D are in a contracted position (Figs. 1 and 2). The rods 32 of which there are two, one adjacent each upper corner of the machine, are secured to the inner ends of rocker arms 33. These rocker arms are pivotally mounted at opposite sides of the machine on shafts or bolts 34 secured in the main frame. Thus, as the lower corner units C are slid along the slide bar I4 from a contracted position to an expanded position or vice versa, the elements D are swung through an arcuate path and are thus expanded outwardly to follow the outward expansion of the units C.

Y The lower corner units C are slid from contracted position to expanded position by means of levers 35 which are pivotally carried on shafts or bolts 3l secured in the lower part of the frame I5 (Fig. 1). An inner arm 38 of each lever 36 is slotted as atA 42 at its upper` end .and the walls of these slots are engageable with the pins 22 extendingr through the slides I3.

The levers 36 are formed with outwardly extended arms 43 which project out through openings 44 formed in the lower opposite corners of the frame I5. Actuation of the arms 43 effects the movement of the' lower corner units C along the slide bar I4. This sliding movement preferably is simultaneous with the arcuate movement of the upper'corner element D. For this purpose the outwardly extended arms 43 are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the rocker arms 33, which latter arms extend outwardly through openings 45 on opposite sides of the frame. Connecting links 46 thus are provided and these links are connected by pins 4l to the rocker arms 33 and to the lever arms 43 on opposite sides of the machine (Fig. 4).

The lower corner or bag vforming units C and the upper bag forming elements D may be operated in any suitable manner to contract and to expand them. By way of example, the units C and elements D are interconnected, so that they may be operated from a single location, as by a foot treadle, which thus leaves both hands of the operator free to slip a partially opened mouth of a folded or attened bag in place over the units C and elements D when they are in contracted position (Fig. 2). The connected arms 33 and 43 on opposite sides of the machine preferably are connected by suitable linkage to a rocker shaft 52 (Fig. 1). Such a shaft is carried in suitable bearings 53 formed in the base I8. The shaft 52 is held in desired operating position by collars 54 which are secured to the shaft.

One end of the shaft 52 carries a bell crank lever 55 which is secured thereto (as viewed on the lower right hand side of Fig. 1 of the drawings). An arm 56 of lever 55 is connected through pins 5l to links 58, 62 and to the arms 43. The other arm of the lever 55 identified by the number 63, is connected through pins-t4 and a connecting link 65 to an arm 660i a foot treadle 5l.

The opposite end of the shaft 52 carries a lever 'I3 (Fig. 1) which, like lever 55, is secured to this shaft. Similarly, links 58, 62 connect the outer end of the' lever 13 to the arm l43 on the opposite side of the machine. Pins 5l are used to effect the linkage of the lever '53, the links 58, '52 andthe arm 43.

Thus, as the foot treadle 'I is depressed (Fig. 1), the lower corner units C expand or slide outwardly while the upper corner elements D swing upwardly and outwardly from the contracted position (Fig. l) to Vthe extended position (Figs. 3 and 4). In either the contracted position shown in Fig. 1 or the expanded position shown in Fig. 3, the expanding rods D are always in alignment with the side walls I2 of the angular units C. Provision is made to maintain the unit C and the elements D in their expanded position so that empty cans or other articles may be packed into a bag or shipping carrier A when the latter is in article receiving condition. For this purpose a latch link "Ill is pivotally carried on a -pin I5 secured in a lug l5 formed integral on the base I8 and is formed with a semicircular slot Il adjacent its outer end which'drops in place and engages a pin 'I8 secured in the arm 66, and locks the linkage and the bag forming units in an expanded position.

Inorder to restore the bag forming units C and D to their original or contracted position,

, disengagement of the latchlink 'I4 from the pin 'I3 is accomplished by merely kicking the latch link upward and allowing the machine parts to return under spring action Vas an incident to positioning a bag in place for opening. This is effected by means of a tension spring 82 (Fig.,1) having one end secured to the frame I5 and the other to a pin 83 secured in the arm 56 of bell crank lever 55.

c Operation of the machine just described is as follows: A bag A partially opened at its mouth, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, is slipped orA telescoped over the outer ends of theflower, corner units C and the upper corner elements D while in contracted position; The partially opened bag thenv is slipped further onto the units C and elements D to open the sides of the bag. The latter units and elements thereafter are moved to their fully expanded position (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) by stepping on the foot treadle 6l as previously described. This opens the bag or carrier A into article re. ceivingcondition. v

During the expansion of the units C, the bottom walls II cooperate toproduce a continuous wall along the bottom side of the expandedbag. Such a wall provides an interior lining wall or forming mandrel in the bag which also serves as a support for the empty cans, containers or other articles being packed into the bag. Ihe side walls I2 cooperatewith the bottom Walls II in further lining the expandedv bag, serving as side guides for thearticles as they are passed into the opened bag through -the rear opening Il of thef'machine frame and'thefully opened mouth ofthe bag. v

The bag A upon being lled with empty cans orotherarticles then is slipped Aoil. the units C and elements Diwhilethey arestill in expanded position `without disturbing. the arrangement or the cans or other articles in the iilledbag.` The filled ,bag thereafter may be i closed andv `sealed `at its opened end in any` suitable manner and is` ready for shipment to thecanneryyor other packing place.

Itis thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understoodr from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form.

construction, and arrangement of the` parts of4 the apparatus mentioned herein and inthe steps and their order of accomplishment of the process describedv herein without departing from the` ried in said frame and connected to said ,lower` units for eiecting the sliding Yof `said lower units onsaid bar, rocker arms pivotally carried lin said frame, upperbag formingy unitsmounted onl said rocker arms and movable relative to said lower units, andl means for operating said leversland said arms in unison for sliding said lower` units and for moving saidupper units to a contracted position and to an expanded position, said lower units and said upper units being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a contracted position and being expandable within the bag to open the Same for lling.

2. In a machine for opening bags and. the like and for holding them in expanded position for filling, the combination of an open frame through which articles are passed during said lling, a slide bar mounted in said frame, a pair of slides carried on said slide bar, a pair of lower bag forming units secured to said slides, each of said units comprising a bottom wall and a laterally bent side wall, the said bottom walls of said pair of units being disposed in overlapping and sliding relation, upper bag forming units pivotally carried in said frame and movable relative to said lower units, and means for sliding said lower units and for moving said upper units to a contracted position and to an expanded position, said lower units and said upper units being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a contracted position and being expandable within a bag to open the same, the bottom and side walls of said lower units providing a hollow forming mandrel for the expanded bag and to guide and to support articles lled into the held open bag.

3. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in expanded position for lling, the combination of a frame, a slide bar mounted in said frame, lower corner units slidably carried on said bar, levers pivotally carried in said frame and connected to said lower units for effecting the sliding of said lower corner units on said bar, rocker arms pivotally carried in said frame, upper corner rods mounted on said rocker arms and movable relative to said units, a rocker shaft associated with said frame, connecting linkage between said levers and said arms and said shaft for operating said levers and said arms in unison for sliding said lower corner units and for moving said upper corner rods to a contracted nec-tors betweenlsaid-levers and said arms to proposition and toan expandedhpositon, and means` for actuating said` rocker shaft, said lower corner units :andsaid upper corner rods being disposed tofreceivea partiallyopened' bag when in a coritractedf. position and, being expandable within;

the'gbag; to open the same for lling.

4r `In amachine-for opening bags and the like andior holding them in expanded positionfor i lling,thegcombination of `a frame, lower corner units; slidablyl mounted in said frame, levers piv otally carried in said" frame andl connected to saidglower units foreffecting the-operation of said unitsgrocker arms-pivotally carried in said frame,y upper corner rods mounted on said rocker arms andcmovablerelative to said units, pivotal convideian interconnected linkage for operating said;

levers,` and said arms in unison for sliding said lowerllcorner unitsand forV moving said upper.4 corner rods to` acontracted position and` to an expandedposition,` and a foot treadle for operat.

ingsaid` interconnected linkage, said lower corner unitsand said upper corner rods being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a con-` tractedl position and being expandable within the bag; to open the same for filling.

5. Ina machine for opening bags and the like;

and for holding them in expanded position for lling, the combination of `a frame, lower corner lunitsslidably mounted in said frame, levers Div,-

otally` carried in said frame and connected to said lower units for effecting the sliding movement of said units in the frame, rocker arms pivotally carried in said frame, upper corner rods mounted on said rocker arms and movable relative to said units, pivotal connectors between said levers and said arms to provide an interconnected linkage for operating said levers and said arms in unison for sliding said lower corner units and for moving said upper corner rods to a contracted position and to an expanded position, a foot treadle for operating said interconnected linkage in effecting the movement of said lower corner units and said upper corner rods to an expanded position, and spring means attached to said interconnected linkage for returning said lower corner units and said upper corner rods to a contracted position, said lower corner units and said upper corner rods being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a contracted position and being expandable within the bag to open the same for lling.

6. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in expanded position for filling, the combination of a frame, lower corner units slidably mounted in said frame, levers pivotally carried in said frame and connected to said units for sliding said units in said frame, rocker arms pivotally carried in said frame, upper corner rods mounted on said rocker arms and movable relative to said units, pivotal connectors between said levers and said arms to provide an interconnected linkage for operating said levers and said arms in unison for sliding said lower corner units and for moving said upper corner rods to a contracted position and to an expanded position, a foot treadle for operating said interconnected linkage, and a latch link being engageable with said interconnected linkage when said lower corner units and said upper corner rods are in expanded position for locking the same within an expanded bag to hold it in position for filling, said lower corner units and said upper corner rods being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a contracted positio'rlA and being expandable within the ba'g'toi open` the sameduringsaid filling. l

7. AIn a machine for opening bags and the like and for Aholding them in expanded position for lling,-the combination of a frame, a slide bar mounted in said frame, lower bag forming units slidablyv carried on said bar and having movement longitudinally of the bar with the units substantially parallel to each other, upper bag forming units disposed parallel to said lower units, said upper units being pivotally carried in :saidv frame and having arcuate movement at right :angles to said slide bar, link members connecting :said lowerland said upper bag forming units, and

means for sliding said lower units longitudinally of said slide bar and simultaneously moving said upper units through said link members while maintaining the upper units parallel with the lower units to bring all units to a contracted position and to an expanded position, said lower units-and said upper units being disposed to receive a partially opened bag when in a contracted position and being expandable Within the bag to open the same for filling.

y8. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in position for filling with articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of parallel lower bag opening units mounted in said frame and having bottom wall members disposed in parallel overlapping relation and movablerelative to each other, a pair of upper bag forming unltsrdisposed parallel to said lower' nitsfsaid. upper units -being m'ovably carried in said franca-` means vfor rmaintaining said lower and upper? unitsin parallelism during said movements, and moving `means for producing said relative `Inovements in unison to move said lower units toward eachother and to simultaneously move said upperv units inwardly toward each other so that'said lower'and upper units then have a contracted form forreceiving a partially opened bag thereon,4 said moving meansalso separating said lower andV upper units to move them away from each other to an expanded form to open the bag fully. said overlapping walls serving as aV platform lto supportv said articles as they are placed in the',` opened bag during the'lling operation;

JOHN F. PETERS Y REFERENCES CITEDl The following references are of recordin y le o f this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTs l 2,409,626 Harrington et al. Oct. 22, 1946 

